What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

Mansfield has the most homeowners (73.1%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookline	Mansfield
People
Population	63,266Highest	23,931Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below MA	41.4±1.3Highest 4% above MA
Kids under 18	18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Mansfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.8%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Brookline and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	85.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$142,101±$8kHighest 37% above MA	$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA
	Brookline and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA	$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA	$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$7,226Lowest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±4Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Brookline and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 7% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	30.1%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#22 of 282 in MA	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	Brookline	Mansfield
High school in town	Brookline High	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.